The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Polish \Pol"ish\, v. i.
   To become smooth, as from friction; to receive a gloss; to
   take a smooth and glossy surface; as, steel polishes well.
   --Bacon.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Polish \Pol"ish\, n.
   1. A smooth, glossy surface, usually produced by friction; a
      gloss or luster.
      [1913 Webster]

            Another prism of clearer glass and better polish.
                                                  --Sir I.
                                                  Newton.
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   2. Anything used to produce a gloss.
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   3. Fig.: Refinement; elegance of manners.
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            This Roman polish and this smooth behavior.
                                                  --Addison.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Polish \Pol"ish\, a. [From Pole a Polander.]
   Of or pertaining to Poland or its inhabitants. -- n. The
   language of the Poles.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Polish \Pol"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polished; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Polishing.] [F. polir, L. polire. Cf. Polite, -ish]
   1. To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; to
      burnish; to overspread with luster; as, to polish glass,
      marble, metals, etc.
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   2. Hence, to refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or
      rusticity of; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish
      life or manners. --Milton.
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   To polish off, to finish completely, as an adversary.
      [Slang] --W. H. Russell.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Polish
    adj 1: of or relating to Poland or its people or culture;
           "Polish sausage"
    n 1: the property of being smooth and shiny [syn: polish,
         gloss, glossiness, burnish]
    2: a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or
       impeccable quality; "they performed with great polish"; "I
       admired the exquisite refinement of his prose"; "almost an
       inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is
       almost art"--Joseph Conrad [syn: polish, refinement,
       culture, cultivation, finish]
    3: a preparation used in polishing
    4: the Slavic language of Poland
    v 1: make (a surface) shine; "shine the silver, please"; "polish
         my shoes" [syn: polish, smooth, smoothen, shine]
    2: improve or perfect by pruning or polishing; "refine one's
       style of writing" [syn: polish, refine, fine-tune,
       down]
    3: bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state;
       "polish your social manners" [syn: polish, round, round
       off, polish up, brush up]